Wenger wants his Arsenal ‘love story’ to end with a trophy

Arsene Wenger: ‘I would like to walk out of Arsenal and think until the last day I focused only on Arsenal’

ARSENE Wenger says he wants to add a romantic ending to his Arsenal “love story” by leading the club to Europa League glory.

With the Frenchman’s 22-year reign as manager set to come to an end in a matter of weeks, the club is set to miss out on a place in the Champions League through their Premier League placing for the second season in succession.

But if Wenger (below) could get his hands on the Europa League it would propel the Gunners back into Europe’s premier cup competition.

“I’d like to finish my job well,” he said ahead of tonight’s (Thursday) semi-final second leg tie with Atletico Madrid, with the contest poised at 1-1.

“I believe, as well, a man has to give his best as long as he is somewhere with all of his commitment and energy.

“I would like to walk out of Arsenal and think until the last day I focused only on Arsenal. When my job here finishes I will see where I go from there but I want to finish this love story well.”

The Gunners will walk out at the Wanda Metropolitano as underdogs after failing to make the most of their advantages at the Emirates Stadium last week.

Antoine Griezemann’s 82nd-minute strike saw Atletico fight back to claim a 1-1 draw, despite playing for over 80 minutes of the match with 10 men after Sime Vrsaljko was sent off following two bookable offences.

It means the north Londoners must score in Madrid to have any chance of reaching the final, and Wenger insists they will approach the challenge on the front foot.

“The way to behave is clear. We know we need to score,” he said. “We have a clear demand in our heads and a clear approach. We need to be positive.

“The only thing we don’t know is if Atletico Madrid will do the same, or if they will do the opposite and have a more cautious approach and try to get at us on the break. That is what we will have to deal with in this game.

“It is a very, very big game for us because the future of Arsenal is not exactly the same if we qualify for the Champions League or not.”